Title
Northwest Caspian moderately halophytic desert steppes (Stipa sareptana, Stipa lessingiana, Stipa capillata, Agropyron desertorum, Leymus ramosus, Tanacetum achilleifolium, Artemisia taurica, Artemisia lerchiana) in combination with vegetation on solonetz soils (Artemisia pauciflora, Camphorosma monspeliaca)a = without Artemisia pauciflora on solonetz-soils
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Russia: strips with north-south-exponation on the ridge and on slopes of the Ergeni hilly country
area frequency
16 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Artemisieto (taurica, lerchiana)-Stipeta (sareptanae, lessingianae, capillatae); Artemisieta pauciflorae.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
As the species assemblage suggests, these steppes represent a transitional type between the Pontic and the trans-Volgian-Kazakh desert steppes. In addition to species generally distributed in Pontic and Kazakh desert steppes (e.g. Stipa lessingiana, Festuca valesiaca, Aster tarbagatensis), other species prevailing here include: Stipa sareptana, Agropyron desertorum, Artemisia lerchiana, Artemisia pauciflora etc. Typically Pontic species also play an important phytocoenotic role (e.g. Artemisia taurica). In the whole area, particularly on watersheds, the formation of a vegetation complex is characteristic.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Herb layer
in steppe communities: Stipa capillata, Stipa lessingiana, Stipa sareptana, Stipa pennata, Agropyron desertorum, Festuca valesiaca, Artemisia lerchiana, Artemisia taurica; in solonetz-communities: Artemisia pauciflora, Tanacetum achilleifolium, Leymus ramosus, Kochia prostrata, Camphorosma monspeliaca
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Stipa sareptana, Stipa lessingiana, Agropyron desertorum, Artemisia lerchiana, Leymus ramosus, Camphorosma monspeliaca
Ecological variants
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Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
Vegetation of ravines: in the north tree stands (Ulmus laevis, Crataegus monogyna, Rhamnus cathartica, Prunus spinosa) and in the Čapurnikovskaja gorge pedunculate oak forests (Quercus robur) with Ulmus laevis, Acer tataricum, Euonymus verrucosa amongst others. In the central and southern part only shrub stands (Rhamnus cathartica, Spiraea hypericifolia, Calophaca wolgarica, Prunus tenella) remain preserved.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Limans with salt marsh communities (e.g. Polygonum arenarium subsp. pseudoarenarium, Polygonum salsugineum); small-area incidences of north-Turanian halophytic dwarf semi-shrub vegetation (Halocnemum strobilaceum, Kalidium foliatum, Atriplex cana, Artemisia santonicum) on solonetz soils and vegetation-free salt pans; north-Turanian Artemisia pauciflora communities on solonetz soils; on slopes: Artemisia santonicum-Communities, herb-rich grass steppes and fescue-feather grass steppes; tall sedges (Carex riparia etc.); small-area incidences of East European open pedunculate oak forests (Quercus robur) with steppe species (Caragana frutex, Prunus tenella, Brachypodium pinnatum) at valley slopes.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
mixed hornbeam-oak forests (F170, F171), downy oak forests (G62), steppes (M11, M12, M13, M14, M17, M20, M21), desert (O1, O2, O5), dune vegetation (P16), salt vegetation (P31, P35), freshwater and brackish water reed vegetation (R1, R3), alluvial forests (U14, U21).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Plantations of Ulmus pumila, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Populus nigra.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pasture grounds (sheep, goats, cattle).
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
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settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
Jergeni Hills: undulating plains with steep eastern slopes, cut by many ravines and shallow streams, and very gentle western slopes; the upper part of the main ridge is characterised by plateaux and moderately inclined slopes with many limanes and hollows.
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
lowland; 120-200 m (in the northern part 120-150 m, in the southern part 180-200 m)
Geology (bedrock)
eolian (sand, bluff formation), fluviatile and marine sediments (Holocene, Pleistocene, Pleistocene above Tertiary)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
salificeous light chestnut- and solonetz soils of different grades; (haplic, luvic (sodic) and calcic sodic kastanozems; orthic solonchaks)
soil texture
loamy, here and there covered with sands or stone-rich
soil moisture, water balance
very dry
soil fertility
oligo-mesotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VII2b, VII3
average annual temperature
7-8,9 °C
average annual precipitation
300 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
July 23-25 °C, (maximum 41-43 °C)
average temperature of the coldest month
January -10 to -9 °C, (minimum -35 °C)
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
continental climate.
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
The area is used for pasturing and sometimes as arable land. Where heavy grazing has occurred, tussock grass steppes have been replaced by mugwort communities (Artemisia lerchiana, Artemisia taurica) with Leymus ramosus. Limans have been transformed into arable land.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Within the range of this mapping unit, nature reserves are lacking. The tree shrub vegetation of the ravines which harbours many rare species (e.g. the east Pontic-trans-Volgian species Calophaca wolgarica) is particularly invaluable.
causes of endangerment
Overgrazing, arable farming, tree plantations (afforestation).
required measures for protection and restitution
Establishment of conservation areas of sufficient size.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
No details
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Dimo & Keller 1907; Lavrenko 1980; Levina 1953; Terenožkin 1947; Vysockij 1915; Žudova 1951
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová based on documents by Z.V. Karamyševa; U. Bohn
